Quick Facts
- Type
- Mammal
- Size
- 3–4 m tall at the shoulder
- Weight
- 4,000–7,000 kg
- Habitat
- Savannas, forests, and grasslands of Africa
- Diet
- Grasses, leaves, bark, and fruit
- Active Time
- Active day and night, resting in heat
- Lifespan
- 60–70 years
Field Notes
- An elephant's trunk has tens of thousands of muscles and can pick up a single blade of grass.
- They communicate over kilometers using low rumbles below human hearing.
- Herds are led by the oldest female, the matriarch, who remembers distant water sources.
About the African Bush Elephant
The African bush elephant is the largest living land animal, roaming the savannas, forests, and grasslands of sub-Saharan Africa. Distinguished by its enormous fanning ears, long muscular trunk, and curved ivory tusks, it uses the trunk for breathing, drinking, grasping food, and communication. Highly intelligent and social, elephants live in matriarch-led herds with strong family bonds and long memories. They shape entire ecosystems by toppling trees and digging for water. Sadly, the species is threatened by poaching for ivory and by habitat loss.
Keep exploring
Related animals
Red Fox
Capybara
Malayan Tapir
Bengal Tiger
Giant Panda
Sunda Pangolin
Narwhal
Giraffe
Sea Otter
Red Panda
European Hedgehog
Black Flying Fox
Or spin for another random animal on the explorer, or browse all species in the full directory.